16 OCTOBER 2017

Bute Retains IBF Crown In Bucharest, Pavlik Next?

Canadian based Lucian Bute retained his IBF super middleweight crown Saturday night by knocking out mandatory challenger Jean Paul Mendy in the fourth round at the Romexpo in Bucharest, Romania.

Romanian-born Bute sent Frenchman Mendy crashing to the canvas with a heavy handed left jab and was counted out by referee Marlon Wright after 2:48 of the fourth session. Bute (29-0) dominated the battle of the southpaws, handing Mendy (29-1-1) his first defeat.

Bute has now successfully defended his IBF title eight times since winning the crown in 2007.

It now looks like there is every chance that Bute, arguably the best 168lbs in the world, will now face Kelly Pavlik in November, though no official announcement had yet been made